A Tale of Two St. Patty's

Happy St Patty's Day Little H! 

As we drove toward are 3 respective destinations on St P's day we heard on the radio that one of the local bars, McFadden's was open and serving bright and early at 5am. Wow. On a Thursday that is impressive. Who are these people that don't have work on a Thursday? 

I also found myself pondering how can someone stomach putting down a bunch of green beer that early? Then a somewhat fuzzy memory from college popped into my head.

My club rugby team at U of M traveled occasionally for tournaments. I attended two of them. One was NashBash in Nashville, TN and the other was the St. Patty's Tourney in Savannah, GA. As we were a club team we drove university vans down in carpools. I, along with 5 other girls sped (and I do not exaggerate saying that- we were stopped and ticketed twice on the way down alone and stopped and warned once on the return trip) down south. Now I lucked out and only had to drive one leg from 2-6a heading into the city. 

As I remember we were bonding over the fact we Right and Left Flank position 

There seemed to be a green haze as we approached downtown. An 8am parade was scheduled and a great number of people were already milling around the streets. We bought our wristbands that allowed us into beer tents and purchased red cups of warm, green beer. This on an empty stomach was not making my morning. Unfortunatly the crowded streets were devoid of much food but overflowing with Irish spirit...

Can you find me? 

Yeah...that's my coach and I on Halloween that year...

The team's mindset was straightforward; drink moderately in the morning, play a game, rest, play another, rest, play the finals and then party with the other ruggers. And if you have ever met one you'd know that could involve any/all of the following: drinking from an old boot, singing profane songs, the passing around of questionable substances, zuluing(running around topless after scoring your first 'try'), getting hit on by ANYone, and general merriment ending in a deep, deep sleep. 

Harrison would be shocked and appalled to think his mother did such things! 

That being said, if you know me (and well, if your reading this I hope you do) you can rest assured that not all of that is applicable to me. I am a teacher after all :) 

Two very different St. Patty's Days of 2006 and 2011. 

But he loves me anyway :)